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Show J vr 4 I v -- THE GIRL AT THE HOUSE HALFWAY j ga 'f Catrrifktad, lSUi, by D. Attiatan CHAPTER VI. Continued. salil the Judge politely "hate to lose you, of course, but then a young man's got to make Ws way; hes got to get his start." f ranklin rose and turned toward the If you please, Judge, elder man. said he, get the committee appointed for to night If you can. Ill take the examination now. Yes? You are in a hurry! Then tomorrow Ill go oyer and say goodbye to my sister; and the next day I think Ill follow the wagons West. Ive not much to put In a wagon, so I can go by rail. The roads away west of the Missouri now, and my letter comes from the very last station, at the head of the track. So? said the Judge. Well, that ou:'.t to be far enough, sure, if you go clean to the Jumping-ofplace. Hate to lose you, f CHAPTER VII. I t The New World. Franklin crossed the Missouri river, that dividing stream known to a generation of Western men simply as the River," and acknowledged as the boundary between the old and the new, the known and untried. When he descended from the rude train he needed no .one to tell him he had come to He was at the limit, the Ellisvllle. Well, friend, edge, the boundary! said the fireman, who was oiling the engine as he passed, and who grinned amiably as he spoke, "youre sure at the front now. Franklin had not advised his friend Battersleigh of his intended arrival, but as he looked about him he saw that he had little need for any guide. Ellisvllle as an actual town did not yet exist. A rude shanty or two and a line of tents Indicated the course of a coming street. More than forty cow ponies stood In the Cottage corral or In the street near by. Afar there swelled the sound of morning 6 C'amtany, Hava Yark looking about him at the strange, new dountry, In which he felt the proprietorship of early discovery. As Franklin was walking on, busy with the Impressions of his new world, s he became conscious of rapid coming up behind him, and turned to see a horseman careering across the open In his direction, with no apparent object in view beyond that of making all the noise possible to be cowboy made by the freckled-facewho had been up all night but still had some vitality which needed vent. yelled the cowboy, both spurring and reining his supple, cringing steed. "Eeeeeee-yip-yeeeee- ! Thus vociferating, he rode straight at the footman, with apparently the deliberate wish to ride him down. Finding that he failed to create a panic, he pulled up with the ponys nose almost over Franklins shoulder. cried the ridT, Hello, stranger, where are you goin, this cheerfully; bright an happy mornin? Franklin made no Immediate reply, and the cowboy resumed. Have a chaw? he said affably, and looked surprised when Franklin thanked him but did not accept. Say, said the cowboy, after a time say, I reckon I kin lick you." "Do you think so? said Franklin calmly, pulling up his shoulders and feeling no alarm. Shorely I do, said the other; "I reckon I kin lick you, or beat you shootin, er throw you down. fldend," said Franklin, get down off that horse, and Ill give you a little wrestle to see who rides. Whats your name, anyhow? Names Whoa! said the other. He was on the ground as he Curly. said this last, and throwing the bridle over the horses neck. The animal stood as though anchored. Curly cast his hat upon the ground and trod upon It in a Bort of ecstasy of combat. He rushed at Franklin without argument or premeditation. hoof-beat- Eeeeoe-yow-heeeee- How? said Frank, puitled. Why, you won him. said Franklin. '?7oi Oh, pshaw! I wasn't wrestling for yout sense! Besides, 1 horse, only for a ride. didnt have any horse put up against yours. I couldnt lose anything.' Thats so, said Curly. "I hadnt thought of that. Say, you seem like a white sort o .feller. Tell you what Ill Just do w ith you. I think a heap o my saddle, an longs you aint got no saddle yet that you have got used to, like. It dont make much difference to you If you get another saddle. But you Just take this here hoss along. No, thats all right. I kin git me another back to the cotral. Just as good is this one. Jim Parsons, feller on the big bunch o cows that come up from th San Marcos this spring, why, he got killed night before last. Ill Just taks one o his hosses, I reckon. I kin fix it sost you kin git his saddle, If you take a notion to u. Franklin looked twice to see if there was affectation In this calm statement, but was forced, with a certain horror, to believe that his new acquaintance spoke of this as a matter of fact, and as nothing startling. He had made no comment, when he was prevented from doing so by the exclamation of the cowboy, who pointed out ahead. Theres Battys place, said he, an theres Batty himself. Git up, quick; git up, an ride in like a gefiileman. its bad luck to walk. Franklin laughed, and, taking the reins, swung himself into the saddle with the ease of the cavalry mount, though with the grasp at the cantle, with the ends of the reins m his right hand. d funny way Well, thats a d gittln on top of a hoss, said Curly. Are you fraid the saddles goin to git away from you? Better bej;fraid bout the hoss. Git up, Bronchi He slapped the horse on the hip with his hat, and gave the latter a whirl In the air with a shrill which was all that reWhoooop-eee- ! mained needful to set the horse off on x series of wild, plunges the "bucking" of which Franklin had heard so much; a maneuver peculiar to the half-wilWestern horses, and one which is at the first experience a desperately difficult one for even a skilful horseman to overcome. It perhaps did not occur to Curly that he was Inflicting any hardship upon the newcomer, and perhaps he did not really anticipate what followed on the part either of the horse or Rs rider. Had Franklin not been a good rider, and accustomed to keeping his head while sitting mounts, he must have suffered almost instantaneous defeat In this sudden encounter. The horse threw his head dowp far between his fore legs at the tart, and then went angling and A gzagging away over the hard groundlin a wild career of humpbacked aniTS-- - which Jarred Franklin to the mnyrfw of his sVbones. The air teea His lwiid- luminously red. yed filled with loose liquid, hft Alpine turned into a column of meit gelatine. The thudding of the hoffd was so rapid and so punishing .o his senses that for a moment he tld not realize where he actually was. Yet with the sheer instinct of horsemansome ship he clung to the saddle fashion, until finally he wan fairly forced to relax the muscular strain, and so by accident fell Into th secret of the seat loose, yielding, nc$ tense and strung. Go it, go it whooop-e-e-e!- l cried Curly, somewhere out In a dark world. Set him fairj pard-neSet him fair, now! Let that leather! Ride him straight up! That's right! (To be continued.) . stiff-legge- THE FATAL REQUEST OR FOUND OUT By A. L. Harr la Author of Mine Own Familiar Friend, etc. Copyright, 1 a $ Copyright, 1 I by 6 Cattail Pnbllthlng Company. , Smith. by Btrtot CHAPTER X. Continued. Long before the service was over there were sounds of lamentation and wailing from many of those present, and several were compelled to quit the church from the violence of their emotion. At last it was over and the numerous and variously compounded congregation broke up. After partaking of a frugal meal, Ted eat down to await the arrival of Dr. Cartwright. He hoped that nothing unforeseen would occur to cause him to put off his visit, for he was beginning to rely a good deal upon the energetic little man, who had shown himself at once shrewd and kindly In his- dealings with him. He could scarcely believe he had met him yesterday for the first time and here he became aware of a brisk and familiar voice below. How do you find yourself Mrs. Jinman, and hows your lodger? Hope youre looking after him well; giving him plenty of new laid eggs and cream and that sort of thing? Theres nothing like good living to koften the effect of a bereavement. Ted heard the voice gradually mounting the stairs and the next moment the doctor's head was put Inside the door. was his greeting, Hullo! there you are. Well, how are you getting - to-da- on? Ted said that he felt pretty well. Glad to hear it, was the next remark, as the maker of it allowed the rest of his body to follow his head. By the by, saw you In church Sad spectacle very! ;his morning. shall we be off? They left the cottage and made their way in the direction of the station. When they came In sight of the line they saw that there were still parties of men at work, searching among the heaps of rubbish for money or Jewelry or anything else that might have survived the general ruin. right to do a certain thing, I always do it first and inquire afterwards. There was a nose of something metallic falling. Hullo! cried the doctor. And, regardless of the consequences to his clothes, he began to grope among the shattered remains of the flooring. In a few seconds he looked up again, flushed and grimp, but triumphant He held in his hand a conical shaped piece of lead. I thought as much, he said, as he a ball from a handed it to the other revolver! CHAPTER XI. Dr. Jeremiah at Home. The Inquest, which took place at noon on Monday, was held in the school house. The Jury, having been sworn in, proceeded to view the bodies and on their, return from this melancholy duty the coroner made an which announcement, unexpected caused a great sensation among the closely packed audience. It having been brought to at.y notice that one of the supposed victims of the late disastrous affair, instead of losing bis life, as was concluded vt the time, through the accident lA which so many have, unfortunate.V, perished, has come by his deaii through foul play, it is my intention t hold a separate inquiry upon the body I shall at the same hour now proceed with my inquiry as to the manner in which the other passengers met their death. Call the first witness. Later In the day hundreds of people gathered In the churchyard to witness the interments. The body of Silas Burritt had been taken back to the vestry, where It would remain until his son fulfilled the promise he had made and brought it home. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, came the words half-broke- n d - ' Rubbed his head and made sundry exclamations of surprise. After breakfast Franklin paused for The latter had not attended couna moment at the hotel office, almost as try school for nothing. Stepping lightlarge and empty as the dining room. ly aside, he caught his ready opponent Different men now and then came and as he passed, and, with one arm about passed him by, each seeming to have his neck, gave him a specimen of the some business of his own. The clerk hlplock which sent him in the air at the hotel asked him If he wanted over his own shoulder. The cowboy Still another came down much in a hesp, but presto locate some land. stranger, a florid and loosely clad ently sat up, his hair somewhat young man with a mild blue eye, ap- rumpled and sandy. He rubbed his proached him and held somo converse. head and made sundry exclamations "Huh! said he. Well, Mornin, friend, said the young of surprise. man. d! Now, how you spose that Im d said Franklin. Good morning, happened. You kaint do that again, I allow you're Just In on the front, he said to Franklin, finally. said the other. Shouldnt wonder If I could, said Yes, said Franklin, I came on Franklin, laughing. Look out fer me Im cornin! the last train. cried Curly. Stay long? Well, as to that," said Franklin, I They mot more fairly this time, and hardly know, but I shall look around Franklin found that he had an antaga bit." . onist of little skill in the game of I didnt know but nr.aybe youd like wrestling, but of a surprising wiry, to go south o here, to Plum Center. bodily strength. Time and again the I run the stage line down there, about cowboy writhed away from the hold, forty-similes, twict a week. Thats ami came back again with the light of barn over there second battle in bis eye. It was only after livery my wooden-buildinin the town. Sam's several moments that he succumbed, my name; Sam Poston. If you want this time to the insidious grapevine. to go down there, come over and I'll lie fell so sharply that Franklin had fix you up. diflieuliy in breaking tree in order not Franklin replied that he would be to fall upon him. The cowboy lay glad to do so in case he had the need, prone for a moment, then got up and and was about to turn eway. He was dusted off his hat interrupted by the other, who stopped "Mount, friend, said ho, throwing him with an explosive Say! the bridle back over the horse s neck "Yes, said Franklin. without other word. You done it Did you notice that girl In the dinfair! black-hairet like, slick, I ll tell you what well ing room, pony-builsaid do, dark eyes wears glasses? Say Franklin, extending his band. We'll of west the smoothest girl thats the Just both walk along together a way, river. Shes waitin, in the hotel here, if you dont mind. Ill get me a she taught horse but say (confidentially), pretty soon. You see, Im a new You I'm know. sir. school onct yes, man here Just got in this If and I havent bad time to lookmorning, gone on that girl the worst way. arouud you get a chanct to put In a word for much yet. I thought Id go out and me, you do It, wont you? meet my friend, and perhaps then we Franklin was somewhat impressed could talk over such things together. with the swiftness of acquaintanceShore, said Curly. Why didn't ships in this new lard, but he retained you tell me? Say. ole Batty, hes his own tactfulness and made polite crazy to ketch a whole lot o hosses assurance of aid should it become pos- out'n a band o wild hosses down to sible. the Beaver Creek. IH always "Id be migbty obliged," said his me to help him ketch them hosses." I Seems like lose friend. Battersleigh is tond of horses. said my nerve every time I try to say a Franklin, and he's a rider, too. Do you want a word to that girl. Thats so, admitted Curly. He team? kin ride. You orter see him when he Thank you, said Franklin, but I gits his full outfit on, sword an pistol hardly think so. I went to find my by his side, He has a horse, then? friend Colonel Battersleigh, and I un"Has a hoss? Has a hoss-'h- as derstand he live? not "cry far away. Oh, you mean old Batty.' "Yes, he what? Why o course he has a boss. south- a little ways Is there anybody that ain't got a lives Just-ouhoss? Section No. 9, southeast quarter. Franklin passed on in the direction Well, I havent, 'said FrankBn. You got this on?, which had been pointed out to him. said Curly. x new-foun- d uh-hu- r! MAKING A PUMPKIN PIE. Heres a Description of How Grandmother Did It. Does any one remember thq pumpkin pies which grandmother tsed to make? Grandmother opened the pumpkin and took out Its works and peeled and sliced it and put It In the kettle, where It was boiled until it was soft and mushy, but not too mshy. Later she pressed the result tlrough the holes in a colander, and when she had dished out a portion for imrediate use, she was ready to bejin the A construction of the pumpkin pie. big and square Iron bake sheet was lined with flour crust, which covered the bottom of the pan and reached up along the four edges until the pastry could look over the rim. Then she put an egg and a sufficient amount of sweet milk in among the pumpkin and nlded a whole lot of black nwlasses and a pinch of salt, and a big lot of ginger, and a pinch and a half of grated nutmeg to the concoction, and when these had been stirred in among the milk and the pumpkin, the mass of ingredients was poured into the bake pan and the pan was closed up inside of the oven to be cremated while the children waited outside with the water oozing from our months until the wonderful expeiltcert was completed. And nobody except some few of us lucky old chaps ever tasted anything like one of those pumpkin pies. It was deep and spicy and sweet and satisfying. It was more like a pumpkin pudding, so thick it was, and wholly like unto ambrosia steeped in nectar, sb toothsome it was; and when we'tHink of those great squares of pumpkin pie which found their way down our ravenous gullet, we wonder bow it Is that modern boys manage to live at all without pumpkin pie. Bangor News. , t -- Cholera Decimates Army. The increase .f the death rate in the army to 15.-1- per 1 000 during the fiscal year is chargeable to cholera, men which carried off three and a to the 1,000. If i i Whats that? tergel from his sanctum, and greeted him with great cordiality. So youve come thought you would. Glad to see you. And what do you think of my little place? was the next inquiry, accompanied by a sweep of the hand. comprehensive Pretty snug, eh? Not bad quarters for a bachelor? His visitor expressed approval of his surroundings.' which certainly were well worthy of the appellation snug bestowed upon them by their owner. At the same time there was an air of compactness, of severe attention to detail, which was suggestive of the fact that the present occupant had, at one time or other, been restricted in the matter of elbow room. the Yes, Im pretty comfortable, doctor went on. Ive got a very good housekeeper, on the whole. Her chief fault is that shes so confoundedly suspicious! the other. Suspicious! Well, I thought she looked at me rather strangely when she let me in. The little doctor chuckled, and showed symptoms of great inward enAh! you thought so, did joyment. you ? Th,e . fact is, shes in mortal terror of myvetting married! Well, but that wouldnt make her suspicious of me! My dear fellow, shes suspicious of Shes jealous of every everybody. woman, single or married, because the single ones, being single, are open to offers, .while the married ones are liable to lose their husbands at a moments notice, and, as widows, would be more to be feared than the others. But I belong to neither category! said the young man. "Surely .My dear boy, cut in the other, as a young man you are likely td possess female relatives a sister or a cousin or an aunt, either of whom Slight eventually prove dangerous to gay peace of mind. Ted Burritt actually laughed, to the little mans great satisfaction, as the idea presented itself to him of his sister May as a possible aspirant to the position of Mrs. Jeremiah Cartwright. In less that a moment, however, the laugh had died away, and a corresponding expression of despondency settled down upon his features. He thinking of that inquest thought the doctor, and his fathers body lying in the vestry. I must get him out of that groove again. Here starting to his feet come and have a walk round my premises before it gets dark! He took him out through the surgery, and showed him a neat little domain, which was divided into portions, in which grew, respectively, flowers, fruit and vegetables. At the bottom was a fowl run and a very small circular pond, about the size of an ordinary wash-hanbasin, in which paddled a solitary duck, who, as soon as he caught sight of the doctor, forsook his favorite element, and came waddling towards him, quacking loudly. He seems to know you, said Ted. (To be continued.) I thought as much! A The station master was watching their operations from the platform, and to him Dr. Cartwright addressed himself. Look here, Mullins, I want to know what youve done with that carriage the fourth from the engine that we managed to save from being quite destroyed with the others. The one, you know, in which we found He whispered the rest in his ear. The station master replied, with a glance of curiosity and sympathy combined at the young man, who was the doctors compannion, that the carriage or the remains of it had been left at the side of the line, about one hundred yards farther down. They soon found it. Ah, yes, said the doctor, this is You see, it Is a the very carriage. good deal damaged; but I think, for all that, we may be able to find what we are looking for. The first compartment is the one that concerns us. One door of this had been smashed and beaten in by the force of the concussion; the seat had been splintered, and show'ed that ihe fire had caught it in places, and the flooring was torn up. The other end of the compartment, though less wrecked, had received more daipage from the fire, the cushions had entirely disappeared, the woodwork was black and charred, and what remained of the door hung from a single hinge. "Now, said the doctor, taking off his coat before clambering in, you had better stop outside; there isnt room for two of us in here at once. It was in this corner indicating that end of the carriage which had received least damage from the fire that we found him. He was lying there, with his head against the back of the compartment, and the lower part of his body jammed between the broken door and the seat. His heacl, as you might say, rested here, pointing out a particular part of the padThe bulding which yet remained. let, which passed through it, must has lodged somewhere about there. If so, we are sure to find it. Cutting what was left of the cloth in strips with his knife, he began to I pull out the stuffing in handfulls. dont know whether the railway company would have anything to say to this, he remarked, as he carefully passed the material through his fingers, before passing it on to his companion outside, who did the same, but whenever I'm In doubt about my Simple Explanation. An old man wandered into one of the hospitals of an Eastern city. His eyesight was rather bad, and he had come in the hope of securing relief. He was turned over to a young doctor, who adjusted a large frame in front of the patients eyes and placed in it a couple of strong magnifying glasses. He then held a printed card ball from a revolver! some distance away. Can you read that? he asked. ' of the burial service, as one by one No, sir, replied the old man. the coffins were lowered, and the The doctor then put in stronger first spadeful of earth cast upon them. glasses and brought the card nearer. Ted Burritt stood bareheaded beWell, he inquired, can you read side his new friend, the doctor. Sud- it now? denly there was a commotion among The old fellow shook his head, say- the crowd at a little distance and he ing, No, not a word. heard a sharp cry. Then the crowd After repeating this performance opened, as though to make way for several times the doctor was about to some one, and he saw a young man turn him over in despair to his more leading a figure in black, whom he experienced superior, when the old recognized as the widow, whose hope- man quietly explained: less grief he had before been a witYou see, doctor, I never learned to ness of, hut who now was clinging read. arm to the of the youth who supportNot the Queen of Sheba. ed her, and seemed as though her sudden joy were almost more than she The teacher was going over the could bear. good old story of King Solomon ana his wisdom. ; I was never in the train at all, Now, dears, who was the great he was assuring her over and over It was quite a mistake! queen who traveled so many miles again. What made you think you recognized and miles to see the king? Silence prevailed in the class. me? Why, you do krow, all of you. The There was a bit of cloth just like who came to see the king? queen your coat but oh, my boy, to think The name had been forgotten by And the couple Ive got you again! class. In order to help them, passed on, followed by the sympa- the the kind, but misguided teacher began thetic murmrus of the crowd. to offer a little assistance. Well, now, what dyou think of You do know, I am sure. The that for a sentimental episode? Sort name with S, and she was a begins beof thing one reads of but doesnt lieve in, eh? Dear me, and the doc- very great queen. a Just then up shot little hand, and tor took off his spectacles for no apout spoke the triumphant voice of the parent reason, and polished them auburn-hairegirl. She translittle, "silk on his handkerchief. carefully You didnt see the meeting between fixed the listening schoolroom with the following brief sthatement: them, did you? The women were cryI know; it was the Queen of all round ing me, and theyve made Spades! my spectacles quite dull. The Open Door. Then, passing his arm through the I dont know exactly how it hapCome he said, youve others, along, had quite enough of this. Come and pened, Reggie was telling his best I You friend over a game of billiars. spend the evening with me. know where I live? No? Well, any- never meant to propose, you know one can tell you that. Goodbye. I that is, not just yet. I wanted to must be off got a lot of sick people knock about a little more. But after we got home from the theater and to look after. sat in the parlor discussing the plot Ted had no difficulty in finding out of the play, I ventured out on thin tee the house. The door was opened to betore I knew and broke him by an elderly woman servant, where I was.through came as a deuce of a It who, as Ted thought, seemed to re- shock. Just as I should imagine breakgard him with a certain amount of ing through real ice would be. suspicion. Howbeit, she bade him But Jessie was all ready for me. enter. From an inner room a voice She was expecting it. First thing I hailed him. knew she had me by the iollar and Hullo! that you? Thats right landed me on safe ground again but a minute. Just wait I was engaged. No doubt about that. be with you-iuntil I've finished poisoning off the Anyhow, Im glad Ive got her. Might And, through the half open have lost her through some slip if Id parish. i door came the clink of glass and the waited. But I dont want to read any sound of liquids being poured from more stuff about bashful fellows stamone receptacle to another. mering out proposals. Its all too The next moment Dr. Cartwright easy." d n I ' |
